ARCHIVE // GB // 2012

Guernsey

2012 Edition — crown_dependency

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.gg
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
239 (2012) country comparison to the world: 197
Internet users [time series]
48,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 175
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: NA domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 44; 1 submarine cable
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
45,100 (2010) country comparison to the world: 165
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
43,800 (2004) country comparison to the world: 202
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Budget [time series]
revenues: $563.6 million expenditures: $530.9 million (2005 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
1.2% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 26
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
Exchange rates [time series]
Guernsey pound 0.6324 (2012) 0.624 (2011) 0.6472 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5302 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$2.742 billion (2005)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$2.742 billion (2005) country comparison to the world: 182
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87% (2000)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$44,600 (2005) country comparison to the world: 15
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
3.4% (June 2006) country comparison to the world: 97
Labor force [time series]
31,470 (March 2006) country comparison to the world: 205
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
20.6% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 157
Unemployment rate [time series]
0.9% (March 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 78 sq km country comparison to the world: 228 land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative [time series]
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Coastline [time series]
50 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation on Sark 114 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
49 28 N, 2 35 W
Geography - note [time series]
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA
Location [time series]
Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
NA
Natural resources [time series]
cropland
Terrain [time series]
mostly level with low hills in southwest
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Capital [time series]
name: Saint Peter Port geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution [time series]
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status [time series]
British crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (British crown dependency)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER (since 15 April 2011) head of government: Chief Minister Peter HARWOOD (since 1 May 2012); Bailiff Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister elected by States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote NA
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy
Independence [time series]
none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation [time series]
UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Legal system [time series]
customary legal system based on Norman customary law, and includes elements of the French Civil Code and English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; note - there are also 10 Douzaine representatives - one from each parish, 2 representatives from Alderney and the appointed attorney general and soliciter general); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments elections: last held on 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear) lyrics/music: George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)
National holiday [time series]
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Guernsey cow; donkey
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none; all independents
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE]
Suffrage [time series]
16 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
Military
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 12,493 females age 16-49: 12,272 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 354 female: 342 (2010 est.)
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 5,020/ female 4,657) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 22,222/ female 22,031) 65 years and over: 17.5% (male 5,108/ female 6,307) (2012 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.04 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Death rate [time series]
8.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
British and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 3.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 208 male: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Languages [time series]
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 82.24 years country comparison to the world: 7 male: 79.57 years female: 85.04 years (2012 est.)
Literacy [time series]
NA
Median age [time series]
total: 42.5 years male: 41.4 years female: 43.5 years (2012 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Net migration rate [time series]
2.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Population [time series]
65,345 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Population growth rate [time series]
0.41% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Religions [time series]
Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.54 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 31% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
2 (2012) country comparison to the world: 202
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2012)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port